Charlie Christian Lollars VS Fender Custom shop Nocaster pickups
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- čas přidán 25. 08. 2024
- Here is a before and after pickup change comparison. Using my Fender CS Nocaster, I recently changed the custom shop Nocaster ’51 set for a set of Jason Lollar pickups.
In this video over a jazz/blues backing track I play through each pick up combination.
Firstly, playing the Fender CS Nocaster set, working through the neck, middle and bridge positions.
I then play through the new Lollars: firstly through the Charlie Christian Neck, then middle and then the Lollar BS Bridge.
After this I do ‘fours’ between the old and new pickups. Which do you prefer?
Backing track is courtesy of the CZcams Channel Visual Real Book
I played this through a Fender deluxe reverb, mic’d with an SM57. There was no EQ/Mastering added, what you hear is just the amp. It was set up with channel 2 with the following settings: volume just over 2, treble 5, bass 8 and reverb just over 2.
I was inspired to make this pickup change by the wonderful playing and tone of Tim Lerch. Check out his channel if you haven’t already. Only had the new set in a few days, but very impressed. There is greater string definition with the Lollars. The neck is a vast improvement on the Fender CS neck.
The pickup change was complete by Alex Bishop, a luthier local to me in the UK.
👍Enjoy the demo and see you every Wednesday and Saturday for jazz guitar lessons.
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#lollarcharliechristians #charliechristian #telecaster
Check out the Lollars with overdrive and distortion here: czcams.com/video/PWELxcvRNLY/video.html
Sadly, this video is marked as private and is therefore inaccessible. I hope you can change this. I’d love to see it. 🙁
I too would love to see the video!
Bad news - both sets sound great, for different reasons. You need 2 Teles now.
Lol, yes I do and contemplating a 3rd (thinline) ! Just love the Nocaster neck profile
Those are the exact words I've heard in my head that led to me owning 17 guitars. Ah, who am I kidding...? The guitars own me.
I agree. Both are very nice. I love the nocaster for jazz. The nocaster pickups don't get enough praise but they sound pretty sweet. Of course the CC sounds so close to a big box Id been wanting to get one for years. Nice playing friend.
joshua george Do you think you’d mistake the CC in the Tele for a hollow body in a blind test?
I have to agree and I'm shocked. They both honestly sound absolutely superb and very fine. They really do the music justice. I mean...now I'M going to have to get two Teles! Geez!
Wow this is how a pickup comparison demo is supposed to be done! Great playing too, love the jazz, such a nice change from most demos.
Thanks Bruno!
That video is not available anymore.
I like the glasses that came with the Lollars ,
The Lollars cost nearly as much as my glasses!
LOL no offence to ya Andy but that was funny.
Thanks for a fantastic demo that really showcased these pickups. Your playing made both sound fantastic. Personally i liked the tone of the nocasters
The Charlie Christian at the neck sounds much better than the Fender. Warm, round vintage sound with great attack.
depends the tone you want, The fender could sound better with the treble down
me too
I love the articulation in the Lollars in middle and bridge positions, like it's capturing the sound almost before you've played it. The duelling at the end is really fun.
+kevin draper thanks Kevin. I love the string separation in the Lollars, great definition
It’s nice when the playing in a pickup review is enjoyable to listen to
Thanks Jesse
I like both sets. They both have their own voice. Great playing. 😊👍🎸🦅
Thanks man.
Got to say myself I love the Charlie Christian in the neck position but I think the tone of the stock custom shop bridge is much better. Nice to hear someone play jazz on a tele, the neck pickup I think is unjustly maligned by country pickers and rockers because it muds up so much playing big chords. But jazz leads and lightly strummed 3 and 4 note chords sound just wonderful.
I agree re the neck on a tele, it's underused. I love it for jazz.
After nearly a quarter-century of playing, I've only just gotten my first Tele. I don't know how I ever got along without one now. And I absolutely love the neck pickup. What worked for me was putting in a 500K pot (to brighten up the neck pickup just a touch) and then using a 500K resistor from the bridge pickup hot to ground to bring that pickup back to 250K. I also disconnected the tone control from the neck pickup for yet more articulation. It's still plenty warm though. Sheer perfection.
That is a great way to show a side-by side comparison of these pickups. Great idea and you pulled it off very well!
+lewisarnold100 thank you :)
Firstly, how is it possible to choose when you make both sound amazing with incredible playing? Really magnificent! More subtle differences will be heard by better players than I. Looking forward to discovering more on your channel.
Second point is, what a wonderful room to have to play music in. It's got a much different look and feel to every other poorly lit den type 'music room' on other guitarists' channel. Very inviting, bright and comfortable.
Excellent demo and playing! Love the tone you get out of both sets of pickups
This is a very good post. It simultaneously provides me with great feel for a tele pickup replacement project that I am close to committing to.... but it also swings big-time, which is sorta where I am these days... Thanks much!.
Nice, what other pickups are you looking at?
No shrillness out of either set. Very good demo. Can't say that I'd choose one set over the other.
Andy's channel is A+. Thank you for posting your videos, they are, on many levels, superb.
That room looks super cozy!
Awesome video, and a great comparison. This really helps me to hear the difference between the two sets. Well done!
Neil Crowley thanks Neil!
It's great to hear them side by side, makes the difference clearer, nice job!
YQN Thanks 🎸
I normally dislike sound comparisons with music tracks but this is really well done and wonderfully executed with a clear sound presentation. Great job! For what it's worth: I see the appeal of the Charlie Christian sound but myself prefer the Nocaster.
Thanks, glad you liked it. In an ideal world I'd have two Nocasters one with Lollars and one with the stock pickups! I think if you want to jazz up a tele, then the Lollars really get you into that jazz neck tone.
You made really great job with this movie pal. Thanks !
Cheers !
That's a excellent way to see the pick up change , the treble strings sound so much fuller and warmer .. I'll be doing that now 😝
The Lollar CC set is my favorite of any pickup set. I play everything from Coltrane to hank William jr. I build, do setups... it's been years since I have installed anything other than Lollars.
Jam-Art .Music How do you like Lollar Special T’s compared to the CC’s?
Thank you so much for doing this! I am about to grab a CC Nocaster and this was the icing on the cake! Terrific playing and great review. I'm also another Tim Lerch fan; Jason and Fender should give him a kickback! Thanks again!
my pleasure! Glad you liked it. They are a great combo!
I’m loving those Charlie Christian Pickups!
Those trees blowing in the wind!
Loved the nocasters, especially the bridge.
Oh wow, what a battle, but I think it ended in a dead heat! I didn't hear one tone that I did not covet. Loved both sets of pups. All depends upon what your ear prefers, but I think I am leaning slightly towards the Lollars, as they are a tad fatter, but ask me again in five minutes and I might lean the Fender way, as those are brighter! Great hands, bro. Enjoyed your chops. Very Charlie.
Thanks for the comment. I came to the conclusion that I would need two guitars one with each! A draw.
The decor of the room looks like something from "A Clockwork Orange". Viddy well.
It does a little!
I agree with whoever said the Nocaster Neck sounded better until the side by side shootout, when my preference turned to the CC. As for the Bridge, I'll take the Nocaster. Great Video, Great Playing. Thanks!
Really cool demo. I love the original pickups, especially as a Tele, but the fundamental and low-midrange of the Lollars is really fantastic. A surprisingly smooth jazz axe.
Excellent video. I just installed a Lollar CC in my partscaster. Love it!
They are fantastic pickups!
Finally, regardless of the test, a TRUE guitarist who really plays a guitar ..
+Cantarini Lina thank you :)
Wow great playing and demo. Thanks so much!
Thanks Neel :)
Thank you for this.
Lollars are pure silk.
Totally changes the guitar completely.
Silk is a great word to describe the sound of the Lollars 😀
excellent comparison... makes the difference very clear. Thank you!
Thanks!
I vote the Charlies. Love em both though. I had a Nocaster, loved the pickups but never could get used to that neck. I know some guys love em. I now have a 335 with a Lollar CC in the neck and it really sounds nice. Great playing and recording.
Awesome lush guitar playing, and a great myth busting video of what a PROPER "Jazz guitar" should be.
Thanks Daniel :) I agree, re any guitar can be a jazz guitar!
Fabulous guitar playing. I think your new pickups sound more jazzy
You are so great Andy. One of the best in testing pickups and mics...we should become Friends 🤓It's a pity we live far away One to each others. Thank you so much for this test
Thanks for the comment Carlo. Gotta love Teles!
Lollar Charlie Christian for a jazzy tele or...a P90? Whats your precious opinion Andy? Thank you very much
Very enjoyable. Nice playing
Those leaves were happily swaying with the Nocaster pickups.. But i do agree they both sound good. Fantastic tunes there!!
Excellent. Not worlds away from each other I don't think.
Great playing...loved some of those weird disonant chromatic runs and choices!
That's what make "jazz"! 😎
As far as the pick-ups go...
I've had both of these myself, and I have to say in all honesty I prefer the nocasters pair in this instance.
The CC's sound sublime in a fat jazz box...not so much in a Tele.
thanks Christo. I really dug them in my Nocaster, but in the end I sold that guitar as I stopped getting on with the baseball bat neck. Hoping to get a floating CC for an archtop project I'm working on at the moment.
really nice playing. I like them both.
Thanks for checking my video out! Hoping to swap out the pickups in my other Tele soon to do a similar video.
Andy Bowen I’ll check it out!
Lollar neck & Fender bridge sound great !!
The answer to any pickup shootout is to have two guitars!
Nice. I put a set in my Nocaster a couple years ago. No regrets!
That was really terrific.
Thanks Jim
I like both, great playing btw man!
Both sound great the no caster pickups are definitely sharper with better mids and clarity. The CC's straight turned that tele into an ES 150
Those Lollars certainly do turn it into an ES150 style guitar. Sill miss the Nocaster pups sometimes!
Wow. Great demo.
Sound, playing, home all beautiful!
Not saying the Fenders are bad. They sound very nice. Just a personal preference. Thanks for posting this comparison.
So well done. A great video demo.
Thank you kindly!
Nice to the point demo, nice to the point playing!
Nice comparison. Dig your playing, too.
Thanks Richard!
Nocasters neck pickup for me they sound unique but 3:12 sounds like a big body ES with the lollars which I'm very impressed by, hard to fault either really mix of the two perhaps.
Very sweet playing.
Awesome playing!
Thank you!
good jam with yourself. I liked them Nocasters
I like the Lollars but they both sound great, smooth playing.
Both pickups sound great to me. The reason I keep watching this video is for the playing. I'm getting some good ideas for licks I can steal......excuse me, borrow.
Thanks! Go ahead, steal away! :)
Nice A/B test. I agree with the earlier comment that what you have really done is demonstrated you need one more telecaster so you can play both pickup sets.
Chris Herald we all need one more telecaster!
The Charlie Christian is less “plinky” than the Fender. They both sound great. For jazz, I’d choose the CC. Great playing and review!!
Thanks 🙏
Love the Lollar`s! Got `em on my Precision & my Jazz!
nocasters for the win! Best pickups period...
I realize it's all subjective, but those Lollar CC/BS pickups have perfect tone. These two sets are very different, almost not comparable. They do two different jobs. For a good comparison between the Custom Shop and a boutique Black Guard set, check out Pete Flynn pickups.
I'm building a Tele right now and chose the Fender Nocaster pickups set. They're tremendous sounding for traditional Tele applications.
I agree. They are the classic Tele tone
Really well done video!!
Glad you liked it!
Wonderfull played.
Lollar are the ones. Great sound with it!
Thanks Marc.
Nice play, the Lollar makes definitely a fuller solo sound
Yes they sure do!
Put a set of Lollar Special T's in a Purple Pete CV50 and WOW!! Then experimented with other pups....blah....then just dropped in a set of Nocasters today....Lollar territory for sure. Love 'em! Put the Lollars in a budget HB TE62DB that now sounds like a million bucks...as did the CV50 with them. Lollar has more output...nice depth/breadth too. Can't go wrong with either pup set.
Agreed, both fabulous
Great work. Great experiment. For my ears, CC Neck, Nocaster Bridge. That set up plus three other Teles, you'll have the sonic spectrum covered.
Sadly, I sold this guitar on the weekend, but I think you are right. That would have made a great combo.
No question the CC pickups sound better, fatter and warmer, yet still have bite and twang.
I like to hear a stratocaster pickup in the neck of telecasters, but those CC Lollars sound so sweet, that I think you convinced me to put them in my next telecaster type guitar. I've been looking at those Chapman and Reverend telecaster type guitars, and they give you an evolved design for much less money, so I may go that route.
A local pickup winder here in the Portland/Vancouver area, Dave Stephens, made me one of his "Little Charlie" pickups, which is the same concept in a humbucker housing. I put in the neck of my jazz hollow body Ibanez, and it turned an inexpensive guitar into a great jazz instrument. Stephens makes a similar bar magnet pickup for telecasters, which he came out with over 15 years ago, before Jason did - if I recall correctly (not that its a contest). Dave Stephens got Lollar's book about making a pickup winding machine out of a sewing machine, which helped him get started. Jason subsequently took that book off the market, or at least quit printing them, because he realized helping the competition wasn't good business sense (it was nice of him while it lasted). There was quite a bit of competition in Stephens heart, and he felt his pickups were better sounding than Jason's, especially his version of the esteemed "PAF". Dave will never be as big as Lollar, but he winds all his pickups personally, one at a time by hand. I have his P-90, Strat, Humbucker, Little Charlie, and his "Dirty Harry", which is named after Harry D'Armond: they are big, heavy single coil pickups with a nice fat sound. Dave Stephens is an obsessed pickup winder, as they all seem to be - you have to be obsessed about tone to spend so much time winding pickups!
I remember Lollar from my term at the Roberto Venn School of Luthery, where he was always mysteriously working on his own projects, when not helping students. I think he had already gone through the first course, and was a student.helper sort of thing, and learning how to wind pickups. They likely recognized he was gifted, even back then. Jason made pickups for his guitars, and his business has gradually morphed into just making pickups. Lollar has gotten big since 1979, when I was at Roberto Venn - he's one of the elite winders at this point. I don't have the patience for being a technician or builder, but learning about guitars, pickups, and amps is fascinating. I prefer playing music, growing food, and cooking, and leave the technical repairs and building to experts who are obsessed about it, and have the patience.
Nice playing Andy, and great job at comparing them - that was one of the best I've yet seen. Those CC pickups are keepers!!
Both sound good. I kinda favored the Fender pickup in the neck position. It had a slight "edge" that the CC didn't.
loved the Django Reinhardt posters on the wall! great demo too :)
My love of the Charlie Christian pickup came from watching Tim Lerch.
I think that's where I first heard it too. At one point I tried his set up too (tuned down and heavier strings).
Nice format well done you! I am currently planning an upgrade for my mim Nashville deluxe tele, so I am looking at pickup comparisons. Gotta LOVE that Lollar neck! The only one that I think was as good as that is the TV Jones from the 2016 NAMM show. Ha, would love to hear you do that one as well :-)
not heard that pick up, will have to check that out! Thanks for watching. I absolutely love the Lollar neck!
I'm so freaking glad to found your video, i was figure out who is playing lollar BS bridge and surprisingly you combine with charlie christian and also pretty damn good playing. i want more from you with two sets lollar pickup to do, where is it .... LOL
dicky alexander thanks for watching. Yes, about time I put up another video with the tele!
Andy Bowen Okay... promise, i hit the red button
Both sound great. The nocasters would be my choice.
Charlie Christian is a little bit more jazzy, but the original Fender pickups are great as well. I sacrificed a relatively rare ES-345 just because I couldn't decided which one I wanted, so now I have two Telecasters with booth configurations. Great playing!
Do you miss the 345? I used to have one, not a rare one, but still enjoyed playing it.
The chromatic runs at 4:33 and 5:10 were sublime. Especially 4:33 I've never heard bends used like that before.
Thanks :)
Anyone notice how thin those 335s are? I’ve never really seen one in person
I thin these pickups really excel in solo guitar setting (with the neck pickup). Check out this solo piece I did with this guitar: czcams.com/video/v8xD8v7HSpk/video.html
It's kinda hard to tell with a player this good. The hands make the tone.
1:17 ?? I love this little run! It sounds easy, can you teach it? 😬🤔
I preferred the fenders… the Lollars might sound a little more jazz in the traditional sense, but they sounded more choked/less open than the fenders.
I'm particularly interested in the Lollar in the neck position to emulate the Barney Kessel sound more than anything else. The Lollar was noticeably smoother than the "No Caster" pickup, had a smoother, fuller midrange sound, and, as a bonus, somewhat muted the plectrum attack on the strings. Very, very helpful video. Thanks.
Yes, you could certainly get that with the right amp. What a genius Barney was.
If I'm not mistaken, Barney was quoted as saying that the CC was the best sounding pickup ever. I guess a cc might have had issues with hum, because I know Kessell used hum buckers also. Ive never seen a real Gibson 150 like Charlie played, but it would be a treat to see one some day.
Jazzin' Joe 90 - love it !!
lol
Great video!
The CC neck pup sounds great
It’s incredible! Would recommend it!
Great video
Thank you!
Excellent. Just what i needed. The lollars just don’t seem to have the definition articulations. The tone can be adjusted. Saved me a ton of work. Wonder if you ever tried lace sensor pu in the tele?
Nice playing, both pickups sounds great... but I prefer the Nocaster ones
The middle position with the BS and CC sounds good, but the bridge only sounds a bit anemic. I'd personally stick with a standard tele bridge pickup.
I agree!
Both sets of sound great However, if playing just the stock Pickups is what you can do they sound great and no one will complain. Enjoy!
Agreed. I think the stock ones are fantastic pickups.
All good tones but I found both bridge pickups a bit weak. It might just be where you like the height settings. Ive played and original 51 NoCaster on stage and off quite a bit (Not mine sadly) the bridge pup is bright but not brittle with a a lot of body. I like the Christian pups but there's something lacking to my ears. I'd like to see it scoped. Is it missing harmonics that give it that hollow tone?
Cc in the neck for me. Jason L. is a mad scientist!
+greatvanzinni I agree! Love that neck pick up
+1 Charlie Christian, nice round, jazzy
Such a fat sound!
I like you type of music - I am working on getting my "chops" to sound as good. I also have the Lollar Charlie Christian pickup.